Tire chain release device



Oct. 31, 1950 HERBRlcK Re. 23,289

TIRE CHAIN RELEASE DEVICE Original Filed Feb. 9, 1948 INVENTOR. Nf/fon 5 Herr/c /7 BY wh FTTORNEY Reissued Oct. 31, 1950 TIRE CHAIN RELEASE DEVICE Milton B. Herbrick, Sterling, 0010.

Original No. 2,472,828, dated June 14, 1949, Serial No. 7,146, February 9, 1948.

Application for reissue June 2, 1950, Serial No. 165,825

6 Claims. (Cl. 152-213) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms 'no part reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue My invention relates to a tire chain device.

An object of my invention is to provide a re lease device which will allow a tire chain to be released from a tire, and whereby the inner side chain can be conveniently removed.

A further object of.my invention is to provide means for releasing the inner chain in a simple arrangement which requires very few parts, and which works cooperatively with the end cross chain for the releasing function.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device having the above characteristics which can be readily attached, or detached.

With these :and other objects in'view, my invention consists in the construction, arrange,- ment, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my [claim] c laimsgand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the releasing device as-observed from'the inside, of a tire, Figure 2 is a sectional detail taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a modification, and

Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 3.

My invention contemplates a simple arrangement for detaching the inner, annular side chain of a tire chain arrangement, which arrangement is operatively connected with one of the cross chains.

I have used the character In to designate the inner side wall of a tire casing, or the side which is facing away from the outside, of the vehicle. I have further used the character II to designate a series of chain links which provide the inner side chain of the chain arrangement, and I have used the character l2 to designate the usual twisted cross links which straddle the tire I3, such cross links being attached at I4 to either side, it being understood that a further series of links II are positioned on the outside of the tire. I have further used the character I5 to designate the end cross chains including the aforesaid twisted links I2. [The cross chains I5 are attached at their outer ends to the commonly used ring or clamp, which provide attaching means for attachment to the end link ll of the outside chain] The cross chain 15 is attached at its outer end to the commonly used ring or clamp which provides attaching means for attachment to the end link 11 of the outside chain. This construction is well-known in the art and need not be illustrated herein.

of this 1 One of the end links H is attached at Iii-to. the ring shaped member I1 having anopeningat I8. Attached to an end link I2 of the cross chain. is a keeper link I9 which is attached at 20 to the arcuate cam or wedging member 2| which is approximately as wide as the inner diameter of the ring ll. Attachedat 22, or extending .frornthe wider portion 2| is the considerably reduced portion 23 which is bent at 2 4, and is attached at25 to the member 2 I. V

Figure 1 illustrates the arrangement as at.- tached, and with the further-end link I'I being firmly held within the ring member I! due to the fact that the expanded portion 2| has compressed the end link II within the member Il', the member 2i being held securely in this position due to the fact thatthe'cross chain member I5 is attached in place. v I.;; However, when it is desired to remove the chain from the tire, the outer end of the cross chain I5 is detached from the outer side wall chain, and next, the operator will thenbe allowed to swing the member 2| in the directionof the arrow 26 until the reduced portion-23 is within the ring II. This operation will allow the right hand link I I as shown in Figure 1 to be removed through the opening I8, thereby releasing the inner side wall chain, whereby the, chain can be removed. This, then, provides a simple means for releasing the inner side wall chain, and if desired, the arrangement in some cases can be swung by means of the cross chain itself, or by grasping the member I9. 1

A further modification of this arrangement is shown in Figures 3 and 4 wherein the same ring I1 i employed and having the opening I8 and with the links being attached in the sameqmanner.- In this arrangement however a member having a circular cross section and whichisyindicated by the character 2? at its greatest cross section'is used, and terminates in ,the expanded head 28 which bears againstthe tire casing- I31 The portion 2! continues into the reducedipor; tion;29 which issubstantially arcuate as shown; the lower .end of whichis attachedat 30vto'r'a further link or keeper ,.3I which in turn-isat-v tached to the links I2 of .tliecross chain. lnythis latter construction, when it is desired to release the side wall chains, after the. cross chain I 5- is released, the members .29 and 21 are pivdtedEi'n the direction of the arrow 26 whereby the reduced portion 29 will enter into the ring IT, allowing the link I I to be released through the opening I8 in the same manner as described above. The arcuate portion 29 permits the pivoted or oscillatory movement of the wedge member 27 by the cross chain 15 which, when released, is swung outwardly to operate the chain release device.

It will now be seen that I have provided the various advantages .set forth in the objects of my invention with various other advantages being readily apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my [claim] claims anymodifled forms of structure of use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

:tire chain release device including an inner side chain divided and forming two end portions, a cross chain, and clamp means including a ring connected to one end portion of the'inner side chain, said ring having a releasing opening, said ring receiving a link of the other end portion of the side chain, wedging members received in said ring adapted to snugly said link within said :ring member, said wedging members having reduced portions, and being attached to said cross chain whereby re- -lease of said cross chain will provide means for reception of said reduced portions within said rin to allow release of said link through said releasingopening :for releasing said inner side chain from a tire] .2. A tire chain release device including an inner side chain divided and forming two end portions, a cross chain and clamp means including a ring connected to one end portion of the inner side chain, said ring --havi-ng a releasing opening, said ring receiving a link of the other of the side chain, a wedging memre'ce'iv'ed in said ring adapted to snugly re- {lain said link within said ring member, said wedg'ing member having a. reduced portion and being attached to said cross chain whereby release of said cross chain will provide means for reception of said reduced portion within said ring to allow release or said link through said releasing opening for releasing said inner side chain from a tire.

3.1 tire chain release device for an inner side chain divided and forming two end portions, said tire chain release device comprising a ring member 'detachably connecting the end portions of the inner side chain and having a releasing opening and a cooperating member extending through the ring member, said members having relative oscillatory movement to efiect release of one of the end portions of the inner side chain from the other through said releasing opening, and-across chain connected toone of said members for efiecting said oscillatory movement.

4. A tire chain release device including an inner side chain divided and forming two end portions, said tire chain release device detachably connecting the end portions of the inner side'chain and comprising a connecting member connected with one of the end portions of the inner side chain and having a portion engaging a flank "of the other end portion of the inner side chain :whereby the two end portions of the inner side chain are detachably connected together,

and a cooperating member mounted on the connecting member for pivoted or oscillatory movement in a direction transversely of the connecting member and maintaining the connected end portions of the inner side chain in such connected relation, and a cross chain connected to said cooperating member and adapted, when free, to oscillate the same in a direction transversely of the connecting member to efiect reof the other member from one position to a second position and in one position maintaining the end portions of the inner side chain connected together "and in the second position efiecting a release of one end portion of the inner side chain from the other through a release opening controlled bysaid oscillatory movement, and a cross chain connected with one of said members to efiect the said pivoted 'or oscillatory movement thereof ,for operating the chain release device.

6. A tire chain release device including an inner side chain divided and forming two end portions, said tire chain-release device detachably connecting the .end portions of the inner side chain and comprising two interfitting members', one of said-members having a pivoted or oscillatory movement from one position to a second position and in one position maintaining the end portions of the inner side chain connected together'and in the second position effecting a release of one end portion of the inner side chain from the other, and one of said members consisting of a ring having a releasing opening, and a cross chain connected to the member having the said pivoted or oscillatory movement for operating the the release device to efiect the release of one end portion oj'the inner side chain from the other through the said releasing opening.

7. A tire chain release device ,for an inner side chain divided and forming two end portions, comprising a ring secured to one end portion and provided with a release opening and a cooperating member ecotending through the ring and movable transversely thereof and maintainmy the other end portion of the inner side chain connected to the ring, said members having relative oscillatory movement to effect release of one of the end portions through the release opening.

MILTON B. HERBRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Martel Mar. 23. 1937 

